Astronomical Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy is one of the most important tools that an astronomer has for studying the universe. This chapter begins by discussing the basics, including the different types of optical spectrographs, with extension to the ultraviolet and the near-infrared. Emphasis is given to the fundamentals of how spectrographs are used, and the trade-offs involved in designing an observational experiment. It then covers observing and reduction techniques, noting that some of the standard practices of flat-fielding often actually degrade the quality of the data rather than improve it. Although the focus is on point sources, spatially resolved spectroscopy of extended sources is also briefly discussed. Discussion of differential extinction, the impact of crowding, multi-object techniques, optimal extractions, flat-fielding considerations, and determining radial velocities and velocity dispersions provide the spectroscopist with the fundamentals needed to obtain the best data. Finally the chapter combines the previous material by providing some examples of real-life observing experiences with several typical instruments.Comment: An abridged version of a chapter to appear in Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems, to be published in 2011 by Springer. Slightly revise

Classification and identification of IRAS sources with low-resolution spectra

IRAS low-resolution spectra were extracted for 11,224 IRAS sources. These spectra were classified into astrophysical classes, based on the presence of emission and absorption features and on the shape of the continuum. Counterparts of these IRAS sources in existing optical and infrared catalogs are identified, and their optical spectral types are listed if they are known. The correlations between the photospheric/ optical and circumstellar/infrared classification are discussed.link_to_subscribed_fulltex